The MSI GS66 Gaming Laptop: A Closer Look at its Memory Performance

In this article, we'll delve into the world of memory performance on the MSI GS66 gaming laptop. Specifically, we're looking at how the DDR4-2666 memory compares to the new Intel 10th gen platforms that support DDR4-2933. To do this, we'll follow a simple experiment: we'll test both configurations in various games and see which one comes out on top.

To begin with, it's worth noting that the DDR4-3200 memory running at DDR4-2933 is not as straightforward as it seems. The 2933 configuration runs at CL19, while the DDR4-2666 runs at CL21, resulting in a slight performance difference. However, by enabling overclocking and adjusting the timings, we can match both configurations to ensure a fair comparison.

Tuning the memory is relatively easy, thanks to MSI's advanced BIOS mode. To do this, we press Delete during boot-up, then right shift, right control, left alt, and F2 to enable the advanced BIOS mode. From there, we navigate to the overclocking performance menu and select the memory overclocking option. Within this section, we'll have all the necessary tools to fine-tune our memory settings.

One of the most striking results from our experiment is the sheer difference in performance between the DDR4-2933 and DDR4-2666 configurations. While the former shows a slight advantage, particularly at higher setting levels, the latter can still hold its own. On average, the DDR4-2933 configuration is only 1.2% faster than the DDR4-2666 configuration.

However, things get interesting when we look at the differences in performance at lower settings. In this case, the DDR4-2933 configuration shows a slightly larger improvement of 1.5%. This is significant, particularly for competitive games like PUBG and CS:GO, which can see a 7% performance boost with faster memory.

On the other hand, there are some titles that don't show much difference between the two configurations. In these cases, the margin of error is likely to be negligible, and it's difficult to say whether the faster memory makes a significant difference. These results are especially interesting when we consider games that aren't CPU-bound; in these situations, memory bandwidth becomes less important.

One game that stands out from our experiment is Rainbow Six Siege. In this case, the 1% low performance of the DDR4-2933 configuration is down, making it difficult to pinpoint exactly why. It's possible that the issue lies with the Intel graphics card being disabled during testing, but we can't say for certain.

Outside of gaming, our AIDA64 memory benchmark reveals a far more significant difference between the two configurations. The DDR4-2933 configuration shows 9% faster read speeds, significantly outperforming the DDR4-2666 configuration. This highlights the importance of memory bandwidth in games that are heavily dependent on it.

So, should you upgrade to the faster memory sticks? It's not a straightforward answer. While the performance difference may be small, especially when averaging multiple titles together, there are certainly scenarios where the faster memory makes a significant difference. Ultimately, whether or not you choose to upgrade will depend on your specific needs and preferences.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enThe MSI GS66 gaming laptop sells with DDR4-2666memory despite the new Intel 10th gen platformsupporting DDR4-2933, so let’s find outwhat sort of a performance difference thisactually makes in games and find out if it’sworth upgrading to faster memory.By default, the DDR4-3200 memory that I’musing here runs at DDR4-2933 at CL21 whilethe DDR4-2666 ran at CL19, however I was ableto get my 2933 running at CL19 too and matchall the timings, so we should be in for apretty fair comparison in terms of the memoryspeeds.Both configurations were 2 16gb sticks indual channel.You can tune the memory in the BIOS, justpress Delete during boot up, then once inthe BIOS press right shift, right control,left alt and F2 to enable the advanced BIOSmode.From here go to advanced settings, down tothe overclocking performance menu, enablethe overclocking feature, and go down to thememory overclocking menu down the bottom.Within here you’ll have all the memory optionsyou could want.You don’t have to tune the memory, but bydefault most DDR4-3200 kits will run withslower timings than the 2666 sticks MSI areusing.With that in mind, let’s get into the gamingtests.Battlefield 5 was tested running through thesame part of the game in campaign mode.I’ve got the stock DDR4-2666 results shownby the purple bars, and the faster 2933 resultsin the red bars.There was a small improvement seen to theaverage frame rates, however there was a muchlarger boost to the 1% low performance comparatively,though this was one of the better resultsout of the titles tested.Call of Duty Modern Warfare was also testedin campaign mode by running through the samesection of the game.There was only a slight edge to the 2933 configurationthis time, though at the end of the day it’sextremely negligible in this one.Shadow of the Tomb Raider was tested usingthe games built in benchmark tool, and thiswas one of the few games tested that actuallysaw slightly worse results with the fastermemory.I’m not too sure why that was the case,but either way the difference is only a fewframes.PUBG was tested using the replay feature withthe exact same replay file used in all instances.There was an above average increase to performancewith the 2933 memory in this one, at max settingsthe average FPS was 5% faster, however checkout the differences to the 1% lows.There’s a massive 58% boost to 1% low performanceat very low settings with the faster memory,though this was the highest change out ofall games tested.Fortnite was also tested using the replayfeature with the same replay file in all cases.There was a much smaller difference observedhere comparatively, though there was stilla slight edge to the 2933 configuration.CS:GO was tested with the Ulletical FPS benchmark,and there were minor differences at max settings,the 2933 config was just 1.3% faster in averageFPS, however with everything at minimum itwas now 7% faster.Dota 2 was tested playing in the middle lane,and was another game that despite seeing anincrease in all instances with the fastermemory, it was only subtle and nothing thatimpressive, still better than a loss I suppose.Speaking of a loss, control was seeing loweraverage FPS at all setting levels with thefaster memory, however the margins were extremelyminor, margin of error stuff realistically,I’d say it’s performing about the sameregardless of memory at all settings.Borderlands 3 was tested with the games benchmarktool.The average FPS is basically the same witheither memory option between high and maxsettings, however the faster memory pulledout ahead between medium and very low, althougheven best case at minimum the 2933 memorywas just 4% higher in average FPS and sixand a half percent higher for the 1% low.Overwatch was tested in the practice range,so performance is better than actual gameplay,but it allows me to more accurately performthe test run, ideal for a comparison likethis, either way basically no real differenceshere.Far Cry New Dawn was tested with the gamesbenchmark tool, and there was an improvementseen at all setting levels with the fastermemory, though not by too much.I’ve noted this game as being more CPU sensitivein the past, and memory is definitely tiedinto that.The Witcher 3 also saw some improvements withthe faster memory, however once more likemost of the other games tested it wasn’tthat much and wouldn’t realistically offera perceivable difference in most cases.Assassin’s Creed Odyssey was tested withthe games benchmark, and the performance variedbased on the setting level, but again notthat much difference regardless of settinglevel, some saw a slight increase while otherswere down.Rainbow Six Siege was also tested with thegames benchmark tool, and although the averageFPS was ahead slightly for the most part withthe faster memory, interestingly the 1% lowswere down at all setting levels, I’m nottoo sure what the deal was here.Ghost Recon Breakpoint was tested with itsbenchmark tool as well, average FPS was quitesimilar with a larger boost seen with thefaster memory at max settings, though it wasstill only a two FPS change.These are the differences to average FPS overall 15 games tested with the highest settingpreset.On average the DDR4-2933 configuration wasjust 1.2% faster than the DDR4-2666 configurationthat the GS66 ships with, so not that bigof a difference.There were some titles that saw basicallyno change, or even slightly worse performance,though 1% is pretty negligible and probablymargin of error range anyway.When we look at the differences to averageFPS at the lowest setting levels there’sa slightly larger 1.5% improvement to averageFPS with the DDR4-2933 configuration.Presumably the memory matters more as we’remore CPU bound, and some competitive gameslike PUBG and CS:GO saw a fairly respectable7% performance improvement.There are much larger swings when we lookat the 1% low performance at minimum settings.There’s the strange Rainbow Six Siege resultdown the bottom, not sure what the deal isthere but it’s the only game I tested withVulkan.Meanwhile PUBG and Battlefield 5 saw hugeboosts to the 1% lows with the faster memory,so 2933 should offer a much more stable experiencethere.I’m testing the GS66 with the Intel iGPUdisabled, it may be possible that the highermemory speeds are more beneficial when theIntel graphics is enabled, however I haven’ttested that here as this video was meant tobe specific to the GS66, and it’s my honestopinion that most people playing games willbe using it in discrete mode.Outside of gaming, I’ve also run the AIDA64memory benchmark, and the DDR4-2933 configurationwas hitting 9% faster read speeds here, soa far higher result than what we saw in thegames, but this would be because the bulkof the games aren’t constrained by memorybandwidth.So in some games, the memory change can makea huge difference, but once we average multipletitles together, on average it’s nothingthat impressive.Unless you’re playing a game that sees agood boost with DDR4-2933, it’s probablynot worth replacing the 2666 sticks that shipwith the GS66 with faster ones.At the same time though, the GS66 seems tobe positioned as a more premium gaming laptop,so it seems a little strange to me that theydidn’t just use the best possible memoryconfiguration for it, maybe they just havea ton of 2666 sticks they need to use up orsomething.I’d be interested to hear your thoughtson the performance differences, and whetheror not MSI should have just given the GS66faster memory out of the box, let me knowdown in the comments, and if you’re newto the channel then get subscribed for futurelaptop comparisons and tech videos like thisone.\n"